Favorite K-pop boy group: BTS or EXO? | The Tylt

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Favorite K-pop boy group: BTS or EXO?

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#TeamBTS

BTS—also known as the Bangtan Boys, Bulletproof Boy Scouts and Beyond The Scence—burst onto the scene in 2013 with their hit single "No More Dream," followed by their debut Korean studio album "Dark & Wild" in 2014. The group followed in the footsteps of another popular K-pop boy band, EXO. Nowadays, both K-pop groups are super popular in South Korea.

But in a few short years, BTS has made a huge impact around the world, including in the United States. That was something that became very apparent when the group won the 2017 Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist, and then again in 2018.

Like the group mused in "Not Today," one of BTS' hit singles: "A day may come when we lose. But it is not today. Today we fight!" And that's so true, because J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, Rap Monster, Suga, and V are only getting started.

BTS' K-pop sound blends R&B, hip-hop, and EDM, which explains the group's worldwide appeal. BTS' sophomore album, "Wings," topped the Billboard U.S. World Albums chart and peaked within the Top 40 on the Billboard 200. With a surge in popularity and an international following, BTS perfectly mixes both Korean and English lyrics in their music. Case and point, the group's hit single "Not Today." They are also known for dropping Korean and Japanese versions of their songs like "Airplane Pt. 2."

EXO isn't just an epic supergroup, many would argue EXO is the world's biggest boy band.

EXO started as two groups of six—EXO-K (Korean) and EXO-M (Mandarin for China) in 2011—before becoming a South Korean-Chinese supergroup with nine remaining members in 2012. Three members left from EXO-M. The remaining stars—Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Chen, D.O., Kai, Lay, Sehun, Suho, and Xiumin—have gone on to release four massively successful albums together.

The groups were split for their "Mama" EP, one releasing the extended play in Mandarin and the other in Korean in 2012. The groups finally teamed up for their debut supergroup album "XOXO" in 2013.

Since their highly successful debut effort, the group has been voted the most influential celebrity in Korea (in both 2014 and 2015). While BTS was the biggest boy band in 2016, EXO came back in 2017, ready to take their throne again. Now in 2018, they are expected to make another mega comeback.

EXO has also blended in multiple music genres into Korean pop music. EXO has balanced R&B, hip-hop, dubstep, and electronica in its sound consistently for years—and not only in Korean, but Chinese too. All three of EXO's previous albums have topped the Korean albums chart, while sophomore effort "Exodus" peaked within the Top 100 on the Billboard 200—breaking the group out into the U.S. market.

And the band's hard work has paid off. The group's fourth studio album "The War" topped the Gaon Music Chart in 2017, followed by another #1 album "Don't Mess Up My Tempo" in late 2018. It's safe to argue to EXO is a force to be reckoned with.

Listen to EXO's new #1 hit album "Don't Mess Up My Tempo" below via Spotify. The album topped the South Korean Albums, US Independent Albums and US World Albums charts. The album follows the chart-topping "The War" album, which broke the record for the most pre-ordered album ever in South Korea at the time, with more than 800,000 copies sold. EXO is only getting started.